Dihydrotestosterone is a hormone with powerful androgenic properties. This important hormone plays a role in puberty and helps men develop their adult male characteristics. DHT is an androgen, which means it is a hormone that triggers the development of male characteristics. The hormone is created when testosterone is converted into a new form, dihydrotestosterone. About 10 percent of the testosterone in the bodies of both men and women is converted into dihydrotestosterone in adults — with a much higher amount in puberty. This may be why it is so closely related to the triggering of puberty. The dihydrotestosterone hormone is much more powerful than testosterone.

Dihydrotestosterone (commonly abbreviated to DHT), or 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT), also known as 5α-androstan-17β-ol-3-one, is a sex steroid and androgen hormone. The enzyme 5α-reductase synthesizes DHT from testosterone in the prostate, testes, hair follicles, and adrenal glands. This enzyme reduces the 4,5 double-bond of the testosterone. Relative to testosterone, DHT is much more potent as an agonist of the androgen receptor.

DHT is also known as androstanolone (INN) and stanolone (BAN), and is used clinically under brand names including Anabolex, Anaprotin, Andractim, Androlone, Gelovit, Neoprol, Pesomax, and Stanaprol as an androgen and anabolic steroid. Unlike testosterone and some anabolic steroids, DHT cannot be aromatized, and hence, has no risk of estrogenic side effects such as gynecomastia.

Applications:

DHT (Androstanolone) is identical to the body's own dihydrotestosterone which, as we know, is formed by the peripheral conversion of testosterone. Some therefore call Androstanolone a synthetic dihydrotestosterone. DHT has a predominantly androgenic effect and, due to its structure, cannot be converted into estrogen.

For a fast buildup of power and muscle mass DHT is of little value. DHT used to be the athlete's favorite competition steroid since DHT helped to obtain a harder muscle through a lower fat content by increasing the androgen level without aromatizing. Numerous athletes used DHT during workouts for doping tested championships since the substance remains in the body for only a short time and the testosterone/epitestosterone value is not influenced.

Another positive characteristic is that the injectable version is not liver toxic.

Treatment for DHT-related conditions:

5α-Reductase inhibitors are commonly used for the treatment of two DHT-related conditions, male pattern baldness (MPB), and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Dutasteride is approved for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, and is prescribed off-label for the treatment of male pattern baldness, whereas finasteride is approved for both conditions. Dutasteride is three times more potent than finasteride in inhibiting the type II enzyme and 100 times more potent than finasteride in inhibiting the type I form of the DHT-producing enzyme. Both finasteride and dutasteride are potent inhibitors of the third isotype of the enzyme.

DHT is a particularly potent androgen, five times more potent than testosterone. It attaches to the same sites as testosterone but with more ease and remains bound for longer periods of time.

During fetal development, DHT plays a vital role in the development of the penis and prostate.

As an example of DHT's vital role in the development of men, this article will briefly mention congenital 5-alpha-reductase (5-AR) deficiency. The enzyme 5-AR converts testosterone into DHT. In this condition, 5-AR is missing.

Males who are born with 5-AR deficiency have severely underdeveloped prostate and external genitalia, to the extent that some are brought up as girls. Their penis may appear as an enlarged clitoris or be almost totally absent.

However, at puberty, some male characteristics, such as hair on the chest and a deepened voice, do appear. Males with 5-AR deficiency are are often infertile.

As an adult, DHT is the primary androgen in the prostate and hair follicles. Women have no known role for DHT during development.